"By World War II, Coca-Cola had achieved global popularity. In Germany, the drink enjoyed great success prior to the conflict's outbreak, but after exports of Coca-Cola syrup were cut off, the company's German subsidiary was forced to invent Fanta as an alternative. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola President Robert Woodruff declared that every American serviceman would get a bottle of Coca-Cola for five cents 'wherever he is and whatever it costs the company.'"
"By 1955, Coca-Cola had developed its first canned Cokes as a resilient alternative to the more breakable bottles, and began selling them to overseas servicemen. In 1959, the company began test-marketing canned Coca-Cola in five U.S. cities. Coke cans from this period are now considered eminently collectible due to their rarity and historical value."
Canned beverages emerged in 1935, initially with beer, followed by soda, though manufacturers struggled with metallic taste issues. Coca-Cola created sample cone-top cans in 1936 that never reached production. During World War II, Coca-Cola President Robert Woodruff pledged free Cokes to American servicemen worldwide, resulting in over five billion bottles consumed by war's end. This military relationship drove global expansion and brand loyalty. By 1955, Coca-Cola developed resilient aluminum cans for overseas servicemen. Test marketing in five U.S. cities began in 1959. Cans from this era are now highly collectible due to their rarity and historical significance.
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